Chris Burke and Leon Best latest names to be linked to Norwich City

Tuesday, June 26, 2012
9:06 AM

Friends reunited is the emerging theme of Chris Hughton’s pending transfer activity with the Canaries’ chief stepping up his search for new recruits ahead of City’s return to pre-season training on July 9.

Hughton reportedly made it clear over the weekend that Grant Holt’s immediate future remains a pressing priority after sanctioning longer term deals for Russell Martin and Andrew Surman.

But the Daily Mail yesterday identified a couple of Birmingham old boys who could make the same journey from the Midlands to link up again with their former Blues’ boss in Norfolk.

Central defender Curtis Davies has already been mentioned in despatches this summer to bolster a squad shorn of the experience of Zak Whitbread, but Birmingham’s Scottish midfielder Chris Burke is the latest added to a potential list of St Andrews departures. Burke joined Birmingham on a free transfer from Cardiff last summer and capped an impressive personal campaign during the Blues’ successful Europa League tilt and run to the Championship play-offs by being crowned player-of-the-year at the Second City club.

The Mail also believe Norwich could potentially enter the race for Newcastle striker Leon Best – another former Hughton signing – who has fallen down the pecking order at St James’ behind the potent talents of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse. Blackburn are apparently in pole position, with the Newcastle Chronicle reporting the relegated Premier League outfit have launched a £3m bid. Best’s old club Southampton could also be another possible destination for the Republic of Ireland striker, who helped fire Hughton’s Newcastle to the Championship title in 2010.

John Ruddy’s new four-year deal, announced by the club yesterday, finally ended the speculation the England keeper was a target for Paul Lambert at Aston Villa – a story Ruddy himself had knocked back.

Just had a look on the Canaries website. There is no mention of our new Manager or our new coaches in the 'On the Bench' section. PL has been removed but IC and GK are still shown as Assistant Manager and Head of Operations respectively. I would have thought that it should have been updated by now - or maybe there are good reasons for the changes not to have been made yet!!

I see a lot of people saying 'not premier league class' or 'no premier league experience' as a comment referring to Snodgrass and Burke, but then again how many of our players were though to have 'no premier league class' or 'no premier league experience' but we finished 12th.

DocOhNo.....you STILL going on about your ex-manager?? Jeez, anyone would think you were still hung up on him! Oh, we never wanted Ruddy, you can keep him, as if a broken finger would have stopped you from being 3rd choice keeper at a 4 game tournament.

I'm sure that Villa will sign some talented players, I'm just not sure how long their manager will be with them to make use of those players' talents. As soon as what he considers to be a REAL contender comes up he will be off like a shot. Mind you he won't need to be looking for a striker after seeing that fantastic headed goal that Given scored during the Euros.

Chimpkernels - your club will certainly be up excrement dyke without an oar if you DON'T improve. We have heard your mantra before from Leeds Forrestt West Spam Blackburn Bolton Charlton Sheffield United Sheffield Wednesday etc etc etc. I wish Lambert the best of luck..Mr Lerner I feel sorry for you, you haven't quite got the grasp of how this whole football thing works have you? 16th out of 20 for trying

Well, I have watched all the England games and I think Norwich have at least 3 players that could fit into that set up and 1 who I think will be a regular England player. Ruddy, Holt and the regular will be Howson, Also maybe a couple on the fringe. PL has left Norwich with some real talent, what a gift he had for getting in gifted footballers, no doubt he will go on and do the same at Villa lets hope CH will keep us playing stylish football.

Well Honest John, I haven't actually seen new players rushing into Villa Park since Lambert took over!! And just because Hughton has been on holiday doesn't mean to say he hasn't been involved. I am sure he will have given McNally some idea of who he would like and as you know City arn't that forthcoming with information. Be patient and I think we will be pleasantly surprised; and that includes Holt staying, because he will want to be involved.

El Mingo and DocOhNo - a match made in troll heaven. Been ethered once so will try yet again. If a Troll is someone who criticises others then you are top of the chain. Why did you also feel the need to put the word Club in apostrophes?? I will continue to follow these boards and will comment where i see fit. Your acting like a brat who's had his favourite toy taken away from him by a bigger boy. Get used to it ;)

Gordon Bennett !!! Will some of you lay off Hoots before he's even started ? The man is entitled to his holiday with his wife + kids. Some things are more important than football. Anyone care to give up their holiday this year to spend more time @ work? No doubt his backroom boys have been identifying possible transfer targets etc in his absence. "Don't panic Captain Mainwaring !"....

I feel sorry for you, you haven't quite got the grasp of how this whole football thing works have you? 8 out of 10 for effort though.
Do you seriously think we care if he leaves us for a bigger club? If he gets us playing football like you he will get us into Europe within 3 seasons. I can not think why you feel a 'big' club would take him anyway?
Worry about your own team and your own inability to compete in the transfer market. We will definitely improve this season, but the question is will you?

The reason I think that he'll be gone is Villa's lack of ambition. I mean to say they had that sainted guru who is now at Sunderland for YEARS and what did they win? Nothing. I believe I was at Wembley 18 years ago to see the last time Villa got a trophy. If that continues he'll be gone soon to bigger and better things. If I were you Monkeyballs I'd try to concentrate on finding a replacement manager now as whatever your club has to spend on talent will never be enough for your manager, just like it wasn't for his mentor nor for O'Leary.

Hopefully things will kick off after 1st july. We are 3rd favourites for the drop this season. We desperately need 2 strikers and a fullback. Snodgrass would be a luxury. Rhodes and Gunter are my favourites. Get Rhodes and we can afford to let Karren Brady spend £5M on Holt!!!

It's about time Hughton put aside all thoughts of his oft referred to holiday & started to get down to some serious business. Pre season training starts in under a couple of weeks - and he needs to be blending new signings into the squad from the outset. He also needs to be sorting out situations such as Holty pronto!! Hate to compare, but this prevarication wouldn't have happened when Lambo was in the seat.

Interesting piece of sympathy from Monkeyballs. If he was so happy and confident about what Lambert was going to do with his "club" he wouldn't feel the rather pathetic need to hover around trolling on other teams' websites. Anyway as CovCanary said Lambert's yesterday's man as far as we are concerned. I wish him all the best with Birmingham's second club, I hope he finds it convenient to commute up from there for his weekly visits to his family. I for one consider the matter closed.